THE Cornish Pirates have confirmed that five players have signed new contracts with the club – and there are likely to be more.

The five are hookers Rob Elloway and Tom Channon, centre Alex Dancer, and utility backs Kieran Goss and Mike Pope.

Elloway, aged 30, joined the Pirates from Gloucester in 2007, and has performed consistently well since. He has made 176 appearance for the club.

Devonian Channon is enjoying his first season in Cornwall, having arrived last summer from Bristol. A strong running forward, he is 23 and has featured in 19 games.

The three backs, who also joined the Pirates last year and are all in their early twenties, have impressed with their attitude and development.

Dancer is a former England Students player who has been hampered by injury, but is now fully fit and has played in nine matches, while Goss and Pope have both been regulars.

South African Goss has scored eight tries in 19 appearances, and Bournemouth-born Pope has played in 23 matches and scored three tries.

Director of Rugby Ian Davies said: "It's fantastic that these guys have put pen to paper. We need a little bit of continuity and will be looking to secure more of the current squad over the next few weeks.

"Strengthening the squad will of course be fully dependent on who we retain and the budget available."

The Pirates have secured the signing of lock forward Will Carrick-Smith (pictured above) who has joined them on a dual-registration agreement with Exeter Chiefs.

The 21-year-old made his Chiefs debut in an LV= Cup encounter away to London Welsh in November 2012 at the Kassam Stadium, and to mark the occasion he touched down the first of his two tries scored in four LV= Cup appearances for the Chiefs last season.

As well as gaining further experience in the A League, the former Blundell's School pupil and England U19 international has also played Championship rugby for Plymouth Albion and for London Welsh, and last summer for the Randwick club in Australia, where former Pirate and Chief Wade Kelly is head coach.

Born in Wandsworth, London, the 6'11" forward should prove a useful addition, with Neale Patrick having joined fellow injured locks Gary Johnson and James Sandford on the sidelines.

Neale should soon return to full fitness but both Gary, who hasn't played since September and James are likely to be out for the remainder of the season.

Pirates Director of Rugby Ian Davies said: "With the second row injury situation we are grateful to the Exeter Chiefs in helping us out again.

"Will is obviously a big lad and we will be able to give him some game time until the end of the season."